Jeffrey Epstein spent his final weeks in federal custody in 2019 attempting to gather damaging information on President Donald Trump in hopes of improving his legal situation, according to notes and accounts reviewed by The New York Times.

Epstein, who was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, met repeatedly with his lawyers at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan.

During those meetings, he repeatedly turned his attention toward Trump, filling legal pads with notes containing criticisms and possible strategies, the report said.

Among the writings attributed to Epstein were phrases such as “Trump is a total con artist smoke & mirrors” and “Never had money.”

Attempt to Use Information for Leniency

The notes suggest Epstein believed information about Trump could potentially help him negotiate with prosecutors. His legal team was exploring whether he could provide useful details about other people in exchange for a more favorable outcome.

Epstein reportedly considered possible ways to obtain information, including seeking Trump’s college transcripts and contacting Allen Weisselberg, the longtime Trump Organization chief financial officer, whom the notes described as someone who “knows all.”

However, prosecutors ultimately did not receive any significant information from Epstein’s efforts.

Also Read: Epstein’s Assistant of 18 Years Exposes How Trump Maintained Contact in Closed Door Interview

Epstein’s Complaints About Jail Conditions

Epstein’s writings also revealed his mindset while being held in the Special Housing Unit at the jail. He complained about restrictions on phone calls and visits, as well as the conditions inside the facility.

In his notes, Epstein reportedly referred to himself as a “Pedophile in jail” while describing his struggles during incarceration.

He also expressed fears about his safety, telling his cellmate, former New York police officer Nicholas Tartaglione, that guards would not properly respond if he was attacked, according to the report.

When Epstein was found dead on August 19, 2019, investigators discovered nooses and materials used to make them inside his cell.

Trump and Epstein’s Past Relationship

Trump and Epstein were part of the same social circles in New York and Palm Beach during the 1980s and 1990s.

Flight records from Epstein-related legal proceedings show Trump flew on Epstein’s private aircraft at least seven times between 1993 and 1997, though there is no record showing Trump traveled to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

Also Read: Inside Closed-Door Testimony of the Last Person to See Epstein Alive

The two later had a falling out around 2004 following a dispute involving a real estate deal. Trump later said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, claiming Epstein had been approaching young women who worked at the club.

After Epstein’s 2019 arrest, Trump said he had not spoken with Epstein in about 15 years and said he was “not a fan.”

The latest reporting, based on Epstein’s handwritten notes from his final months, portrays him as seeking leverage rather than possessing hidden information capable of damaging Trump.

Epstein’s Death

Epstein’s death in federal custody was ruled a suicide. He had previously attempted suicide weeks before his death.

The circumstances surrounding his death, including security failures, problems with jail monitoring systems, and staff failures, have fueled public questions and conspiracy theories. Federal authorities have attributed the issues to serious operational failures at the facility.